Typographical distributing machine



June 26, 1928.

. G. E. MARLATT TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 13, 1926 Patented June 26, 1928.

' GEORGE E; MARLATT, or PASADENA, earimaara TYI'O'GRA-PHICAL D STRIBUTING Macrame.

Application filed November 13, 1926. Serial No. 148,302. 7

My invention relates. to typographical machines of the kind employing matrices wh ch are released from aimagazine in the a'ssem-,

bling operation. and. restored to their individual channels in the magazine from which they were withdrawn following their I use in a casting-operation. My present 1111- provements in suchQmachinesare directed to the font-distinguisher which is employed to prevent matrices of one size or design from being distributed into amagazine in tended for a different size or design.

In common practice there are six positions on the lower end of the matrices any one of which may be occupied by the font notch.

But there are twenty-one or more point-sizes of matrices and each size may be 'differentiated into several designs. Hence a single font-notch position hasgbeen made to serve for several sizes of matrices and the several designs in eachsize, with theresult that the font-distrngmsher,does not serve lts purpose withregard to those fonts which have the distinguishing notch. in the same position. For example, 10-point, 13-point, 2'O point,qand -point matrices employ the same position for the font notch, and if each of these four. sizes aremade in three designs, then the single font-notch position must 3o serve for twelve fonts. Heretofore thesix font-notch positions have, been disposed at one side only of the longitudinal center of the matrices, the purpose being to have the font distingi'iisher element. serve its purpose in the event of a matrix being accidentally reversed in position about its longitudinal center. My objective is to retainthe usual font notches in their usual positions but to suppletnent themwith a: second notch or a second and third notch, and toprovide a series of fon-t-clisting1-1ishers instead of the single adjustable distinguisher heretofore; em ployed. And sincematrices now in use must frequently be employed in the same machine with the multiple-notch matrices now contemplated, I therefore provide that the new system does not interfere with the old. A further purpose is to provide means whereby a wrong-font matrix may be readi- 1y removed from the distributor after having been stopped against the font distin; gu-i-shen I attain these objectsby means of the drawings, in Whichdevices illustrated inv-the' accompanying.

Fig. 1. is an elevation of the usual distributor box, showing itsrel'ation to thedis tribut'or' bar and magazine entrance, with my invention appliedg'. Fig; 2 is a perspective of the IIHItIlX-llfb; Fig. 3 is a front elevati-on of the matrix-lift in position to lift a matrlx. having two font notches; Fig. 4

is an edge viewof the matrix-lift in position to lift a matrix having special fOIm'Of font notch; Fig. 5 is an edge view of the matrix lift as. thrown out of lifting position by a reversed matrix having a special form of font notch; Fig. 6 is an edge view 'of the matrix-lift showing how it may be caused to lift a wrong-font matrix afterhaving been thrown out of lifting position thereby{Fig 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig 1'.

The matrices X are pressed by a pusher 1 against the vertical shoulders 2 on a pair of lower rails 3 and similar shoulders 4 on a pair of upper'rails 5 the shoulders being engaged only bythe ears of the matrices; when thus stopped the matrices are. lifted one at a time to causet-heir earsto clear theshoulders 2 and enter the threads of the distributor'screws .8,.the reciprocations of the lifting element B being controlled by a cam 6 onlthe end of one of the distributor screws,

all inthe usual manner. I Also" in usual man I ner, thematrices rise on the inclined upper edges of the rails 5 until their distributing teeth engage the longitudinal ribs onthe distributor bar 7, remaining under control of the distributor screws 8 until they are released into individual channels in the magazine entrance ,9. I In the absence of the special provision to be 'describecL- when a wrong-font matrix has: been lifted into on gagement with the distributor screws it can not be readily removed until it arrives .at a

point above its individual channel or enters therein; also, if stopped against the usual distinguisher point or blade the whole line of matrices must be backed out of the distributor. box 10 in order to remove the wrong-font matrix. As hereinafter explained, according'to the provisions of my v presentiijnprovements the wrong-font matrix will be the foremost matrix inthe dis tributor box and under manual control may becaused to be lifted into engagement with the distributor screws. In order that it may be then removed I provide in the distributor bar 7 avertically movablesection A; The Y ribs A on this movable section are normally in: alinem'ent with those on the main portion of the bar. 7 but since the ribbed edge of the bar is of V-shape in cross section a slight upward displacement of the section A Wlll place it above engaging relation with the teeth X in the V-notch of the matrices and the matrices so freed from engagement will drop from the end of the pair of rails 5 into the hand of an operator or into a suitable receptacle. The section A is pivoted to the horizontal arm of an angular lever A and isnormally held in and returned to 'its down position by means of a spring A but when the lever is rocked about its pivot A? against the tension of the spring the section A will be raised to the position shown in the drawing. Its downward movement is limited by contact of the lever A with a stud A In lieu of the usual single font-distinr guisheij" point mounted between the rails 3 in advance of the shoulders 2, I provide two different series of six distinguishers each, but the numbers given may be varied to meet varying requirements; also, both series maybe alike, or there may be a single series of one form, according to requirements.

The distinguishers C of one series are mounted on the lift 13 and reciprocate therewith each time a matrix is lifted. As illustrated in Fig. 3 their positions individually correspond to the usual six posit-ions occupied by the usual font-notch X on the matrices. Near their lower end each distinguisher is provided with a tooth C and when this tooth is engaged with an upper groove B in the lift the distinguisher thus raised becomes operative by reason of the fact that its distinguisher point C is above the lifting shoulder .13 on the lift. W'hen thus operative, only those matrices having a font notch corresponding in position with the operative distinguisher point will permit the shoulder B on the lift to enter beneath the foremost matrix when stopped against the shoulders 2 of the rails. When in its down position the lift is pressed by a spring 11 against a stop 12 with its lifting shoulder entered just beneath the forward edge of the foremost matrix: hence a wrongfont matrix will not permit the lift to thus enter beneath the matrix but will keep the lift deflected as shown in Fig. 5. If, however, it is desired to lift a wrong font or reversed matrix, the lift may be pressed beneath the matrix as shown in Fig. 6, and the matrix will then be lifted and may be removed from the distributor bar as hereinbefore explained. Another method of lifting a wrong font matrix is illustrated in Fig. 1 which shows a matrix being lifted on and by the distinguisher point, the dis: tinguisher point having been caused to en ter beneath the matrix by pressing down on the lift lever 18 against the resistance of a spring 14. It will be understood that any one or more of the ditsinguishers C may be lifted from the lower notch B 'to the upper notch B and rendered operative in connection with matrices having font notches in corresponding number and positions. The distinguishers are packed in a keeper. D which spans: the lift B and is held in proper position thereon by reason of its engagement with grooves B in opposite edges of the lift. The spring 11 serves to press the distinguishers against the back of the lift and they are moved from one to another position in the notches B against the resistance of this spring. Their lower ends are made angular in'alt-ernating directions for convenience in handling them.

Unlike the series C, the second series E of distinguishers do not move with the lift 13 but remain stationary except when swung to or from operative position. To accom modate them the lift Bis provided with a clearance notch B. They are pivoted on a rod E and stopped again st a rod E whether in operative or inoperative position. In order that they may not become displaced liiiterally they are packed between one of the rails 3 and a sleeve E on their pivot rod. Unlike the movable distinguishers C the stationary ones E hold a -wrong-font matrix away from the rail shoulders 2, but the wrong-font will be the foremost matrix in a line and it can therefore be freed for lifting by merely swinging thedistinguisher to inoperative posit-ion; or, the matrix may be raised manually to clear the distinguisher.

In connection with the usual form of matrix font notch, the chief advantage in providing the series of stationary distinguishers mounted back of the lift instead of the single adjustable distin'guisher point usually provided in front of the lift, resides in the fact that a wrong-font-matrix is stopped in the first position adjacent the shoulders 2, whereas by the old method the wrongfont would be the second or third matrix from the shoulders according to thickness, and could not be removed except by backing the line from the box 10; also, the single dis tinguisher point is easilybroken and Subject to accidental displacement or mis-adjustment. But the present invention contemplates anew form of matrix font-notch. and the new forms of distinguishers. C and E, have a distinct use in connection there with.

Unlike the usual front notch, my new form of matrix font-notch F is out only part way through the matrix. A matrix having two such notches each placed an equal distance from the longitudinal center of the matrix for co-operation with two distinguishers in similar posit-ion would be properly stopped if'presented in reversed position as in Fig. 5, and in this respect'this form F is an improvement over the usual form of notchn Further, it thdiisual form X be employed in connection with the usual form of 'distinguisher (not shown) for the purpose of distinguishing .rpoint sizes, then vthe new form F may-The empvloiyedin connection therewith: for distinguishing Ibo: tween difi'erentstyles of single point size. for example, three fonts of: 10-point, as 10% pt-.,- No.1, 10-pt.,"No; 2, 1'0 pt.,No.= 3,: would all. have-the usual: font notch X inthe same position, and in addition the newsform F in a. different position foreach kind of lO-pit. hence'the new form of; distinguishen, C onE. in connection with the new form of notch F would prevent one lrindi of1-1O-pt.,fnom beinadvertently mixedwith another kind of 10-pt. Fu'rther,-.if the old form of notch ivene' reservech vfor use alone in connection with a single-size of matrices, then the new form of notch: could be employed in connection with the other sizes which'l'iave-heretofore had the font notch in the same position. For example, 6-pt., 12-pt., and 24-pin, could, as heretofore, employ the same font-notch position, and in order to prevent these three sizes from becoming mixed the 12-pt. could have the new form of notch F in a position to cooperate with one of the distinguishers E, and the 24-pt., could have a notch F in position to co-operate with one of the distinguishers C. A further advantage in the new form of notch is the fact that it may be placed in the exact cent-er of amatrix and still serve its purpose in the event of the matrix becoming reversed. Another advantage is that both the old and new form of distinguishers may be employed, one style or size of matrix having the old form of notch and another style having the new form in the same position, in which case the old form of distinguisher would stop a wrongfont having the new form of notch, and the new form of distinguisher could be thick enough to stop a wrong-font having the old form of notch. Or,'the stationary new form E of distinguishers could be in the plane occupied by the old form of notches and made long enough (as'atE) tohold a matrix away from the shoulders 2 even though it carried the new form F of notch in alinement with the new form E of distinguisher. This latter arrangement could be employed to keep matrices of a certain kind out of a certain machine according to the position of the two forms, C or E, of distinguishers relative to opposite sides of the center of the lift B. In this connection it may be noted that asingle distinguisher of the new formv E may be mounted on a longitudinally movable shaft and rendered automatically adinstable in the manner disclosedin Patent No. 1,126,543 and similar disclosures, and,

the other form C could be employed to cooperate and would not interfere with the automatic feature. Also, in my application niatnioe s relative'tosaid distributor bar he'- yond said movable section thereof.

- 2; In comh'nation: with a distributor but and matrices capable of engaging" said bar for suspension therefrom, means for pre; venting said matrices from engaging saiid bar, said ine'ans consisting in nenderingya portion of said banmovableout-of engaging position relativeto said matrices. Y

3. In combinat-ionlwith matrices-having font notches in varying positions and a lift for raising said matrices into engagement with. distributing means, a font distinguisher carried by said lift for permitting or preventing the lift of said matrices ac-' cording to the position of the font notches thereon, v I

4. In combination, matrices having fontdistinguishing notches in varying positions and numbers thereon according to font, a

lift for raising said matrices to distributing,

level, a series of font distinguishers on said .lift, and means for rendering certain of said. distinguishers operative and others thereof inoperative according to the numher and position of the font notches on an active font of said matrices,

- 5. In combination, matrices having fontdistinguishing notches thereon, a matrix lift having a front distinguisher thereon and capable of causing said lift and said distinguisher to be deflected and thus prevent the lifting of a matrix of wrongfont as de termined by the position of its font notch,

and means whereby said distinguisher may remain deflected while said lift is manually moved and caused to lift a'Wrong-fon't matrix without disturbing the adjustment of said font distinguisher.

6. In combination, a reciprocating matrixlift B, having a lifting shoulder 13 a fontdistinguisher mounted on said lift for reciprocating movement therewith andhaving its font-distinguishing point 0 above said lifting shoulder. i

7. In combination, matrices having fontdistinguishing notches thereon in various positions according to font, shoulders against which said matrices are stopped preliminary to their disengagement therefrom, a lift for disengaging said matrices from said shoulders, anda fontdistinguisher mounted beyond said shoulders and said lift and terminating in advance of said shoulders for the purpose of preventing said matrices from lUS engaging said shoulders and being lifted by said lift in theevent that their font-distinguishing notch does not correspond in position with said font 'distinguisher.

8. A combination as specified in claim 7 characterized by the fact that the font-distinguishing notch on the matrices therein recited may be of either one of two forms, one form F thereof extending partly through said matrices and the other form X thereof extending through said matrices, that said two forms of notch may occupy the same position on two fonts of matrices, and including a font-distinguisher of the kind specified but extending beyond said shoulders a suflicient distance to obstruct matrices having the first mentioned form F of notch While permitting those having the other form to engage said shoulders and to be engaged by said lift. i

mounted beyond said lift and capable of being swung selectively to or from a posito the position of the font notch on an active font of matrices.

10. A combination'as specified in claim 9 characterized by the fact that the font distinguishers in the series thereof therein recited may vary in length or thickness according to the form of font notch With which thev are intended to co-operate.

Signed at Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, this 19th day of October, 1926'.

GEORGE E. MARLATT.

tion in advance of said shoulders according 

